'Illegal filming charges' Boatman, will it be overturned with an appeal... 'Guilty in the 1st trial' Bobby Jeong is innocent

It's a strange timing. While singer Jeong Bobby, who was arrested in the first trial for illegal filming, was acquitted and released in the appeals court, the appeal of the boatman who was sentenced to prison for the same charge will be held in June. Attention is focused on the boatman's appeal.

It became a hot topic on the 1st when the result of Bobby Jung's appeal was announced. The Seoul Western District Court Criminal Appeal Division 1 (Presiding Judge Woo In-seong) sentenced Jeong to a fine of 3 million won for violating the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes (filming using a camera, etc.) and assault charges. Regarding the illegal filming, he was acquitted, saying, "There is not enough evidence to admit guilt," and only some assault charges were recognized as guilty.

Previously, in the first trial in December of last year, the court sentenced Bobby Jeong to one year in prison. After an appeal, Bobby Jeong was eventually released.

In 2019, Bobby Jeong was accused of assaulting and illegally filming aspiring singer A, whom he was dating. Mr. A, who complained that "Mr. Jung raped and filmed without consent," was saddened by the fact that he made an extreme choice in April 2020. In addition, another woman, B, was also handed over to trial for assault and illegal filming.

The incident of Bobby Jeong shocked me. However, public resentment did not lead to the outcome of the trial. In the first trial, he was sentenced to one year in prison, and in the appeals court, the sentence was reduced to a fine of 3 million won.

As a result, attention is focused on the appeal of the boatman who was sentenced to prison for illegal filming and distribution of photos. On the 8th, the 1st Criminal Division of the Seoul District Court will hold the first appeal trial for a boatman arrested for violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes (filming using a camera, etc.).

The boatman is accused of secretly filming the body of a lover who was dating in 2018 and sharing the photo in a group chat room. In September of last year, the Seoul Mapo Police Station judged that the boatman was guilty of violating the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes (filming and distribution using cameras, etc.), and handed the case over to the Western District Prosecutor's Office.

However, in the process, the identity of victim A, who revealed the first case, became known, and secondary damage continued. The boatman admitted all charges in the first trial. The court ordered the boatman to complete a sexual violence treatment program for 40 hours a year in prison and to restrict employment for three years at welfare facilities for children, teenagers, and the disabled.

The boatman, who said he was sorry, filed an appeal the day after the trial. Prosecutors also submitted an appeal, saying, "The quality of the crime is poor, and the victim pleads for strict punishment." It is known that the boatman submitted more than 40 statements of apology and more than 100 petitions to the court. I can feel the will of the boatman to get his sentence commuted in the appeals court.

However, in the second trial, Bobby Jeong made a 'not guilty plea' claiming innocence, while the boatman admitted guilt from the first trial and focused on the 'sentence plea'. As the advocacy strategies were different, there is a possibility of different results.

Illegal filming and distribution ruins a person's life. The victim lives in pain, but somehow the trial results are bittersweet. The victim of the boatman incident is requesting strict punishment. It remains to be seen what the judge will decide.

Kim Seo-yoon, staff reporter seogugu@tenasia.co.kr